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#Environmental and social #risk due diligence in the #financial sector. #Banks

1.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISK
DUE DILIGENCE IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR
current approaches and practices
May 2013
Report commissioned by the Netherlands in support of the Proactive Agenda
of the OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct

3.
Glossary of terms
Environmental and Social Risk Due Diligence in the Financial Sector / 2Sustainable Finance Advisory
About the report and
acknowledgements
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs commissioned
this report on behalf of the OECD Working Party on
Responsible Business Conduct as a first step in a dialogue
on what the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
mean for the day-to-day practice of the financial sector.
In particular, this project report seeks to identify financial
institutions’ current environmental and social due diligence
practices, perception and application of the concept of
supply chain responsibility as embedded in the OECD
Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The Ministry hopes
that this study will help to inform stakeholders and other
parties interested in the dialogue on responsible business
conduct in the financial sector.
The study started in September 2012. Financial institution
surveys were completed in January and interviews in
March 2013. The report was finalised in May 2013 and
has been made publicly available through various channels
in June 2013.
The report draws on primary survey and interview data
from global financial institutions supplemented by desktop
research. Fifty-two surveys and 29 interviews were completed.
To maintain data confidentiality of study participants,
all information provided is used anonymously and at the
aggregate level in the report.
This report was authored by Sustainable Finance Advisory
(SFA) under the supervision of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, the project Advisory Group and the OECD Secretariat.
The findings are based on research conducted by SFA and
should not be interpreted as representing the views of either
the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, individual Advisory
Group members or of the OECD.
We would like to thank the Dutch Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, the Advisory Group and the OECD Secretariat for
their on-going support as well as the financial institutions
that participated in the study. Without their valuable
contributions this quality and quantity of research would
not have been possible.
Sustainable Finance Advisory operates at the interface between
finance, business and society to deliver solutions that help its
clients make business decisions that are economically profitable,
environmentally sound and socially relevant. Our network
of consultants provides sustainability services to financial
institutions around the globe including training and facilitation,
delivering environmental and social risk management systems,
sustainability leadership development and driving sector-level
interventions. We would like to thank the entire SFA team for their
contributions to this project and report (see back page of report).
Key Contacts
Professor Dr. Roel Nieuwenkamp
Chair of the OECD Working Party on
Responsible Business Conduct
Email: roel.Nieuwenkamp@oecd.org
Mr. Tabe van Hoolwerff
Senior Legal Advisor
Economic Governance and International Trade Policy
Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Email: tabe-van.hoolwerff@minbuza.nl
Carey Bohjanen
CEO/Managing Director
Sustainable Finance Advisory
Email: carey@sustainablefinanceadvisory.com
Chintal Barot
Project Director
Sustainable Finance Advisory
Email: chintal@sustainablefinanceadvisory.com
OECD Guidelines
for Multinational
Enterprises

4.
Glossary of terms
Environmental and Social Risk Due Diligence in the Financial Sector / 3Sustainable Finance Advisory
Glossary of terms
Adhering countries
The OECD and non-OECD countries whose governments have
adhered to the OECD Declaration on International Investment
and Multinational Enterprises and related Decision. As of
23 May 2012 adhering governments are those of all 34 OECD
members, as well as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Latvia,
Lithuania, Morocco, Peru, Romania and Tunisia.
Adverse impact
For the purposes of this report, it refers to an environmental
and/or social impact where it actually happens, such as
pollution of a waterway or displacement of local community
members from land.
Advisory Group (AG)
The project Advisory Group (AG) established to provide
oversight and guidance throughout this report process.
Members consist of representatives from the OECD,
OECD countries, financial institutions (FI), Industry
Initiatives and NGOs. See Appendix A.
Asset
Any resource owned or controlled by an individual, corporation or
country that has economic value. It includes physical assets such
as facilities, property or equipment as well as accounts receivable.
Asset-Based Finance
For the purposes of this report, a method of funding specific
projects typically secured by the project assets, including the
revenue-producing contracts (e.g. project finance, structured
finance). The lender looks primarily at the revenues generated
by the project (accounts receivable) as the source of repayment
and as security for the exposure. This type of financing
is usually for large, complex and expensive installations
(e.g. power plants, mines or transportation infrastructure).
Asset Manager
FI that manages clients’ investments. It invests on the clients’
behalf and offers them a range of complementary financial
services. Its clients are often large funds, such as pension
funds, and wealthy individuals.
Business relationship
According to the OECD, the term “business relationship”
includes relationships with:
• Business partners;
• Entities in the supply chain; and
• Any other non-State or State entities directly linked
to its business operations, products or services.
Capital Markets services
Long-term debt and equity capital transactions (e.g. securities
underwriting such as bonds issuance, initial public offerings or
IPOs) and related advisory services.
Client
Entity to which a financial institution provides investments,
lending or other types of financial services and products.
Commercial bank
An FI which accepts deposits and provides a variety
of financial services to companies and individuals such
as loans, payment services, investments, insurance and
financial planning. The term also includes wholesale banks
and corporate banks.
Cooperative bank
Commercial bank that belongs to its members, who are
at the same time the owners and the customers of their bank.
Corporate Lending
Lending by FIs to companies (e.g. term loans, working capital
facilities, overdraft facilities).
Development bank
A bank owned and directed by member-governments,
which lend to regional or national development projects.
A development bank located in adhering countries typically
lends to financial institutions in developing countries and
large-scale development projects.

5.
Glossary of terms
Environmental and Social Risk Due Diligence in the Financial Sector / 4Sustainable Finance Advisory
Risk-based due diligence
In the context of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational
Enterprises, the process through which enterprises can
identify, prevent, mitigate and account for how they address
their actual and potential adverse impacts as an integral part
of business decision-making and risk management systems.
In the context of an FI’s risk management, generally refers
to the review and analysis of risks undertaken prior to making
a decision relating to lending, investing or the provision
of other financial services to a client.
Equity
The amount that shareholders own, in the form of common or
preferred stock, in a publicly quoted or privately owned company.
E&S issues
For the purposes of this report, it refers to the environmental
and social matters covered by the OECD Guidelines in the
chapters on Human Rights, Employment and Industrial Relations
and on Environment, which are within the scope of this report.
Additionally, it is used in this report to refer to any
potential or actual impact to the physical, natural or
cultural environment, or on the surrounding community
and/or e.g. workers of a company.
Export Credit Agency (ECA)
Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) provide financing services such
as guarantees, loans and insurance to domestic companies to
promote international trade. The primary objective of ECAs is
to remove the risk and uncertainty of payments to exporters.
Exposure
The amount that an FI may lose in an investment or loan.
Financial Institution (FI)
Banking, investment and insurance institutions that provide
lending, investment, insurance or other financial products
and services.
Financial services
Products and services offered by FIs such as loans,
payment services, asset management and insurance.
OECD Guidelines
The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, 2011
edition. They provide voluntary principles and standards for
responsible business conduct consistent with applicable laws
and internationally recognised standards. However,
the countries adhering to the OECD Guidelines make
a binding commitment to implement them. They contain
recommendations made to multinational enterprises operating
in or from adhering countries.
Initial Public Offering (IPO)
The first sale of a company’s shares to the public, leading
to a stock market listing (known as a flotation in the UK).
Investee company
Listed and/or private entities in which FIs hold shares.
Investment services
For the purposes of this report, managing funds and making
investments (listed and private equity, fixed income and
other non-listed assets) on FIs’ own behalf or on behalf
of institutional investors (e.g. asset management on behalf
of pension funds).
Investment bank
An FI that focuses on raising capital for clients and on
investment services to individual and institutional investors.
An investment bank does not accept deposits.
Leverage
In the context of the OECD Guidelines, leverage is considered
to exist where the enterprise has the ability to effect change
in the wrongful practices of the entity that causes the
adverse impacts.
Multinational Enterprise (MNE)
We use the term in the sense of the OECD Guidelines.
The OECD Guidelines find that a precise definition
of multinational enterprises is not required. These enterprises
operate in all sectors of the economy and usually comprise
companies or other entities established in more than
one country. Ownership may be private, State or mixed.
The OECD Guidelines are addressed to all the entities
within the multinational enterprise (parent companies
and/or local entities).

6.
Glossary of terms
Environmental and Social Risk Due Diligence in the Financial Sector / 5Sustainable Finance Advisory
National Contact Point (NCP)
OECD National Contact Points (NCPs) are agencies
established by adhering governments to promote and
implement the OECD Guidelines. The NCPs assist enterprises
and their stakeholders to take appropriate measures to further
the implementation of the OECD Guidelines. They also provide
a mediation and conciliation platform for resolving practical
issues that may arise.
Pension Fund
A fund established to facilitate and organise the investment
of employees’ retirement funds. They are meant to generate
stable growth over the long term and control relatively large
amounts of capital.
Private equity
Stock in a privately held company.
Private equity company
FI that specialises in investments in companies that are not
publicly traded. Private equity companies acquire a controlling
or substantial minority position in a company and then seek
to maximise the value of that investment.
Reinsurance
The insurance that is purchased by an insurance company
from one or more other insurance companies, as a means
of risk management.
UNGPs
The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and
Human Rights.
Syndication
A method of financing where several FIs finance or
underwrite together a particular transaction or project,
to limit their exposure. The financing is structured, arranged,
and administered by one or several commercial banks
or investment banks known as lead arrangers.
Working capital facilities
Lending to provide operational liquidity to a company.

7.
Executive summary
Environmental and Social Risk Due Diligence in the Financial Sector / 6Sustainable Finance Advisory
Executive Summary
Context
At the OECD 50th Anniversary Ministerial Meeting
held in May 2011, in Paris, former US Secretary of State,
Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton presided over the 2011 OECD
Ministerial Council Meeting during which the update of the
OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (the OECD
Guidelines) by the 34 OECD and 101
non-OECD adhering
governments was agreed upon.
The OECD Guidelines are recommendations addressed to
enterprises operating in a global context covering all major
areas of business ethics, notably labour, human rights,
anti-corruption, the environment, tax and competition.
The OECD Guidelines are supported by a unique
implementation mechanism where adhering governments
agree to establish National Contact Points (NCPs) for the
promotion of the OECD Guidelines and the provision of
assistance to parties when questions arise with respect to
the observance of the OECD Guidelines in “specific instances”
(or complaints).
The update included a new human rights chapter consistent
with the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights
and the expectation that enterprises should undertake due
diligence in order to avoid being involved in adverse impacts
on matters covered by the OECD Guidelines, including in their
supply chains and business relationships, and to address such
impacts when they occur.
As the 2011 update confirmed that the OECD Guidelines apply
to all sectors, including the financial sector, they do not provide
more detailed guidance on the application of the OECD
Guidelines to financial institutions (FIs) or any other specific
sector. However, specifically the extended OECD Guidelines’
recommendation to
“Seek to prevent or mitigate an adverse impact where they
have not contributed to that impact, when the impact is
nevertheless directly linked to their operations, products or
services by a business relationship”
raises specific challenges regarding the proper observance of
the OECD Guidelines by the financial sector.
Discussions between FIs and their stakeholders including
from civil society revealed different understandings and
interpretations of how the OECD Guidelines can be and are
being observed by the financial sector, particularly the new
provisions on due diligence and human rights. A sense of
urgency to tackle this divergence of views is expressed by
the NCPs, dealing with specific instances raised against FIs
by stakeholders for allegations of non-observance of the
OECD Guidelines. Where a company and its stakeholders
fail to reach agreement on the issues raised, NCPs can make
statements about what would constitute proper observance of
the OECD Guidelines in the specific instance.
The 2011 update established a “proactive agenda” of the
OECD Investment Committee to foster multi-stakeholder
discussion on emerging issues of responsible business conduct
as covered by the OECD Guidelines and develop additional
tools or guidance as appropriate. One of the first Proactive
Agenda items raised was the need to better understand what
proper observance of the OECD Guidelines by the financial
1 Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Latvia, Lithuania, Morocco, Peru, Romania and Tunisia. Together these 43 adhering countries account for around 85 per cent of
world foreign direct investment (FDI) outflows [see FDI in Figures: www.oecd.org/investment/statistics.

10.
1. Background
Environmental and Social Risk Due Diligence in the Financial Sector / 9Sustainable Finance Advisory
1.1. Context
The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
The OECD Guidelines are far-reaching recommendations for
responsible business conduct that are binding for governments
of adhering countries and provide non-binding (voluntary)
principles and standards for multinational enterprises
(e.g. enterprises operating in a global context).2
The OECD
Guidelines require adhering governments to establish National
Contact Points (NCPs) that promote the OECD Guidelines
and provide a mediation and conciliation platform for resolving
practical issues that may arise in “specific instances”.3
Where
parties are unable to resolve their issues, NCPs can make
public statements on the (non-) observance of the OECD
Guidelines in the specific instance. This unique grievance
mechanism distinguishes the OECD Guidelines from other
similar standards.
Adhering countries comprise of 34 OECD members as well
as 10 non-OECD countries: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia,
Egypt, Latvia, Lithuania, Morocco, Peru, Romania and Tunisia4
(Adhering Countries).
The OECD Guidelines provide non-binding (voluntary)
principles and standards for responsible business conduct
for enterprises in a global context consistent with applicable
laws and internationally recognised standards. The
OECD Guidelines are the only multilaterally agreed and
comprehensive code of responsible business conduct that
governments have committed to promoting.5
The OECD
Guidelines comprise of 11 chapters covering a broad range of
issues related to:
• Concepts and Principles;
• General Policies;
• Disclosure;
• Human Rights;
• Employment and Industrial Relations;
• Environment;
• Combating Bribery, Bribe Solicitation and Extortion;
• Consumer Interests;
• Science and Technology;
• Competition; and
• Taxation.
Enterprises are recommended to conduct due diligence
as described in the OECD Guidelines’ chapter on General
Policies to ensure that they meet the recommendations
of the substantive chapters. It should be noted that this
recommendation does not, however, apply to the OECD
Guidelines’ chapters on Science and Technology, Competition
and Taxation.6
The 2011 update of the OECD Guidelines
To ensure that the OECD Guidelines continue to be a “leading
international instrument for promoting responsible business
conduct”, the OECD Guidelines were last updated in 2011
to reflect, inter alia, the latest developments relating to
human rights as embodied by the United Nations Guiding
Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).7
The
update included a new human rights chapter which consistent
with the UNGPs, recommends enterprises to undertake due
diligence in order to avoid being involved in adverse impacts
on matters covered by the OECD Guidelines, including in
their supply chains and business relationships. To address
such impacts when they occur, the improvement of the NCP
process and the adoption of a proactive agenda was discussed.
The OECD Guidelines reflect the overarching principle of the
UNGPs that:
“The responsibility of business enterprises to respect human
rights applies to all enterprises regardless of their size,
sector, operational context, ownership and structure.
Nevertheless, the scale and complexity of the means
through which enterprises meet that responsibility may
vary according to these factors and with the severity of the
enterprise’s adverse human rights impacts.”8
2 The OECD Guidelines, Part 1, Preface, Paragraph 1, page 13.
3 The OECD Guidelines, Foreword, Paragraph 3, page 3.
4 http://www.oecd.org/daf/inv/investment-policy/oecddeclarationanddecisions.htm
5 The OECD Guidelines, Foreword, Paragraph 1, page 3.
6 The OECD Guidelines, Part 1, Chapter II, Commentary 14, page 24.
7 The United Nations Human Rights Council endorsed the UNGPs in June 2011.
8 Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework, principle 14. Page 15.

11.
1. Background
Environmental and Social Risk Due Diligence in the Financial Sector / 10Sustainable Finance Advisory
The proactive agenda
Under the 2011 OECD Guidelines, the OECD Investment
Committee should pursue “a proactive agenda that promotes
the effective observance by enterprises of the principles and
standards contained in the OECD Guidelines”.9
The OECD
Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct, a subsidiary
of the OECD Investment Committee, carries out the practical
work of the Proactive Agenda. For that reason, this report will
refer to the Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct
throughout. NCPs should:
• Consider new developments and emerging practices
concerning responsible business conduct;
• Support the positive contributions enterprises can make to
economic, social and environmental progress; and
• Participate where appropriate in collaborative initiatives to
identify and respond to risks of adverse impacts associated
with particular products, regions, sectors or industries.10
Challenges related to the application of the OECD Guidelines
The 2011 Update confirmed that the OECD Guidelines apply to
all sectors, including the financial sector. However, due to time
constraints, further guidance on the application of the OECD
Guidelines to FIs was not included in the update.
As a result of the “generic” nature of the OECD Guidelines and
the recent update, discussions between various stakeholder
groups including adhering countries, NCPs, FIs and civil society
revealed conflicting views as to how the OECD Guidelines apply
to the financial sector. Furthermore, given the complexity of the
financial sector itself, as well as the complexity of responsible
business conduct in relation to issues such as human rights,
varying levels of understanding and various views exist amongst
these stakeholders with regard to:
• Different types of FIs;
• Different types of financial services;
• Current risk-based ES due diligence conducted by
different FIs;
• The perceived level of influence an FI could have on its
clients/investee companies to prevent or mitigate adverse
impacts to which they are linked through the provision of
financial services; and
• How specific instances raised by stakeholders against
FIs and/or their clients/investee companies should be
handled by NCP processes.
Divergences in understanding and opinions amongst
stakeholders are further compounded by a “definitional divide”
found in the differences in terminology used by the: (1) OECD
Guidelines; (2) UNGPs; and (3) the financial sector.
Within this context, specific challenges exist as to the
interpretation of how the OECD Guidelines’ provision to
“seek to prevent or mitigate an adverse impact where they
have not contributed to that impact, when the impact is
nevertheless directly linked to their operations, products
or services by a business relationship”11
applies to FIs and the financial products and services
they provide.
In addition, the areas characterised by the least clarity
and greatest differences in opinions between stakeholders
are related to the chapters on Human Rights, Employment
and Industrial Relations and Environment. In summary,
there is a potential disconnect between the principles
of responsible business conduct as set out in the OECD
Guidelines and their interpretation by different stakeholders,
as well as in terms of how they apply to the actual practices
of the financial sector.
Why this mapping exercise was undertaken
In order to inform discussions on how the OECD Guidelines
apply to the financial sector, this mapping exercise was
undertaken to better understand the actual practices of FIs
in the area of risk-based ES due diligence including:
• The nature of various financial services and products
and how that relates to the recommendation under
the OECD Guidelines that enterprises should seek
to prevent or mitigate adverse impacts which are
linked to their operations, products or services by a
business relationship;
• Existing practices of FIs on risk-based ES due diligence; and
9 The OECD Guidelines, Part 2, Chapter II, Commentary 8, page 69.
10 The OECD Guidelines, Part 2, Commentary on the Implementation Procedures, Commentary 18, page 81.
11 The OECD Guidelines, Part 1, Chapter II, Commentary 12, page 20.

12.
1. Background
Environmental and Social Risk Due Diligence in the Financial Sector / 11Sustainable Finance Advisory
• The perceived level of leverage/influence over a client or
investee company to prevent or mitigate the adverse
impacts to which an FI may be linked through the
provision of particular financial services.
Subsequently, this mapping exercise may be used by the
OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct
as a basis for future discussions and actions to promote the
OECD Guidelines within the financial sector.
1.2. Elements in scope of this project
This project maps the ways in which the financial sector
perceives and manages ES risks associated with their
activities and relationships beyond legal requirements,
within but not limited to the context of the OECD Guidelines.
The research contemplates the approach of FIs to identify
and manage ES risks associated with activities of clients
or investee companies, to which FIs are directly linked12
via
the provision of financial services and products, as set out
in the OECD Guidelines.13
The scope of the research was limited to the following
chapters of the OECD Guidelines:
• Chapter IV. Human Rights;
• Chapter V. Employment and Industrial Relations; and
• Chapter VI. Environment.
Consistent with current practice of the majority of FI participants
in this study, we will refer to these three issues as environmental
and social (ES) issues. We use the term ES issues to refer to
any potential or actual impact to the physical, natural or cultural
environment, or on the surrounding community and/or, for
example, workers.. It should be noted that while human rights can
fall under either environmental or social issues, depending on the
circumstances, employment and industrial relations issues always
falls under the umbrella of “social” issues.
INCLUDED IN THE SCOPE OF THIS RESEARCH
IS A MAPPING OF:
• Different types of FIs;
• Different types of financial services;
• Relevant industry initiatives and standards that have
emerged (e.g. UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human
Rights, UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment,
IFC Performance Standards, Equator Principles);
• Existing risk-based ES due diligence processes and
implementation in relation to different financial services;
• Human rights risk due diligence processes and
implementation; and
• The perceived level of leverage or influence of an FI to
prevent or mitigate adverse impacts to which they are
linked through the provision of financial services.
Case studies and practical examples are included throughout
the report where appropriate to support the analysis.
1.3. Elements out of scope of this project
This project is not intended to provide a normative overview of
the ways in which the OECD Guidelines apply to the financial
sector, nor does it aim to create any new recommendations
additional to those contained in the OECD Guidelines. Rather,
the approach is to explore and map how FIs manage ES
risks whether in application of the OECD Guidelines and/
or other internationally agreed standards and/or local laws.
Furthermore, issues of compliance with national anti-money
laundering or consumer protection laws, while within the
purview of the OECD Guidelines, are beyond the scope of
this research.14
Lastly, the research does not cover the recommendation in the
OECD Guidelines that multinational enterprises including FIs
avoid causing or contributing to adverse impacts through their
own operations (e.g. activities involving facilities, branches,
assets or employees).
12 The OECD Guidelines, Part 1, Chapter II, Commentary 12, page 20.
13 The study makes reference to the General Policies chapter of the OECD Guidelines, which sets out general principles. See the OECD Guidelines, Part 1, Chapter II,
page 19–26.
14 Nonetheless, the focus of this research should not be seen as a stand-alone exercise as all chapters are interlinked. Further studies could explore such dependencies
not only among the chapters but also between different OECD working groups.

14.
2. Mapping exercise: approach
Environmental and Social Risk Due Diligence in the Financial Sector / 13Sustainable Finance Advisory
OECD adhering countries
Non-adhering countries
Map showing geographical cover of the study
FIs from 24 countries represented in the study. Surveys completed: 52. Interviews completed: 29.
2.1. Methodology
2.1.1 Information gathering
A project Advisory Group (AG) was established to
provide oversight and guidance throughout the process.
The AG’s multi-stakeholder membership consisted of
representatives from NCPs, adhering countries, FIs,
relevant industry initiatives15
, business, labour and
NGOs (see Appendix A).
The methodology for gathering data consisted of:
• Desktop review;
• Surveys; and
• Interviews.
Desktop review was conducted to:
• Define the types of FIs and financial services to be included
in the scope of the study;
• Gather initial data on ES due diligence and sector
initiatives; and
• Gather initial data on the nature and characteristics of the
different types of financial services and related ES risk
due diligence.
An online survey16
was designed to gather information from
FIs on:
• ES risk due diligence including human rights due
diligence; and
• Potential influence to prevent or mitigate adverse impacts
of clients or investee companies in practice.
Survey responses from over 50 FIs globally were received,
83% from adhering countries and 17% from non-adhering
countries. FIs from 24 countries were represented in
the study (see map below); roughly half of the survey
responses were from European FIs (see Appendix B for
a more detailed breakdown).
15 These include, for example, the Equator Principles, United Nations Environment Programme-Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI), United Nations-backed Principles for
Responsible Investment (UN PRI), Business and Advisory Committee to the OECD, and the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC).
16 A link to the survey questionnaire completed by FI study participants can be found at: http://www.oecdguidelines.nl/ncp/ncpconference/
environmental-and-social-due-diligence-in-the-financial-sector-survey.
Key

15.
2. Mapping exercise: approach
Environmental and Social Risk Due Diligence in the Financial Sector / 14Sustainable Finance Advisory
Interviews were conducted to gather qualitative information
to supplement quantitative survey data. The 29 FIs
interviewed are from adhering and non-adhering countries
and representative of the different types of FIs identified as
relevant for the purposes of this study. Where possible we
attempted to quantify findings from interviews, however due
to the nature of the interview process, we were not able to
do this in all cases. Although we used a standard interview
question template to guide the interviews (see Appendix C
for representative interview questions), the discussions varied
considerably depending on the FI, their business model, their
survey responses, or where the FI had further understanding/
experience or specific implementation examples to share. In
some cases, we have used terms such as “most”, “some” and
“a few” to describe anecdotally interview data where it was
not possible to specify the exact number of FIs which provided
particular views or information. A more flexible, tailored
approach yielded better information as compared to limiting
our interview process to asking the same set of questions of
each FI.
In most cases, FI study participants were from the
Environment and Social Risk, Responsible Investment,
Sustainability teams or other equivalent function within their
respective organisations. Approximately 50% of survey
respondents held senior level positions such as the head of the
department/function, directors or assistant directors, whilst
the others comprised of mid-management or environmental/
social specialists. Where an FI participated in both the survey
and the interview processes responses were typically provided
by the same individual(s).
2.1.2 Clarifications on terminology
In this section we clarify the key terms we use in this report.
These should not be interpreted as normative, but rather
to ensure a consistent use of terms which otherwise may
be readily subject to interpretation in different ways by
different stakeholders. The report is intended to be
accessible to a wide range of readers beyond FIs;
a glossary of terms has been included for ease of
reference (see Glossary of Terms).
• Risk-based due diligence in the context of the
OECD Guidelines is:
“the process through which enterprises
can identify, prevent, mitigate and account for how
they address their actual and potential adverse impacts
as an integral part of business decision-making and risk
management systems.”
• For FIs the approach to risk-based due diligence generally
refers to the review and analysis of ES risks undertaken
prior to making a decision relating to lending, investing or the
provision of other financial services to a client. However, this
does not exclude per se processes in place to address adverse
impacts, which arise after a decision has been approved to
provide specific products or services. Throughout the report
we will refer specifically to ES risk due diligence.
• Investment and insurance companies tend to refer
to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) practices.
However, for ease of reference and consistency, we will
use the same “ES” terminology for all FIs (i.e. “ES due
diligence” would also include ESG due diligence).
• For the purposes of this study, adverse impacts refer
to environmental and/or social impacts where it actually
happens. These are not to be confused with other types
of adverse/negative impacts that might occur as a
consequence of the adverse impacts on the ground, such
as financial or reputation impacts on the client/investee
company or the FIs.17
• It should be noted that ES issues as they have been defined
for the purposes of this report (i.e. any potential or actual
impact to the physical, natural or cultural environment, or
on the surrounding community and/or e.g. workers) vary
in the degree of severity, as defined for example, in the
categorisation approach under the Equator Principles.
• We will use the term client to mean the entity to which
the FI is providing financial services; and investee
company to mean the entity in which an FI is making
an investment. We will use the term client or investee
company throughout to refer to both situations.
• We use the term business/commercial teams to refer
to the front office teams, client relationship managers,
fund managers and other commercial deal teams in an FI.
• For the purposes of this project, five types of financial
services are defined as per Table 1 below:
17 The OECD Guidelines refer to “Avoid causing or contributing to adverse impacts on matters covered by the OECD Guidelines” of which environmental and social
matters are in the scope of this report. They do not however define in detail the term “adverse impacts” and hence a definition is provided for clarity on the use of the
term throughout this report.

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2.1.3 Limitations of the study
The following limitations of the study should be noted:
• Types of FI: It was agreed that the study would not be able
to cover the entire spectrum of FIs that exist. It was also
recognised that given their size, number and geographic
spread, banks would likely form the largest group, and that
smaller sample sizes would be possible for other FI types
(e.g. asset managers, private equity companies, etc.);
• Sample Size: the sample size of FI types other than banks
was small meaning that the findings for these FIs are
illustrative, rather than representative;
• Retail banks: retail banks were excluded due to the
decision to focus on financial services provided
to corporate clients or investee companies;
• Market leaders: in order to identify emerging good
practice the sample largely included market “leaders”
in the area of risk-based ES due diligence and ES risk
management more generally. They may therefore not
necessarily be representative of their peer group;
• Constituency: the scope of the study did not provide
for opportunity to conduct surveys and/or interviews
with other relevant actors, hence the survey and interview
findings reflect information from, and the views of, FIs
only. The report does reflect feedback from the multi-
stakeholder project Advisory Group comprising of NCPs,
labour, NGOs and industry associations; and
• Geographical representativeness: While over 150 FIs
from all regions of the world were invited to participate
in the survey, approximately 50% of respondents were
FIs headquartered in Europe, hence the findings are not
representative of all geographies.18
Table 2: Clarifications of types of financial institutions
Type of financial institution
Asset Managers
Asset Managers provide investment services on behalf of institutional funds, such as endowments and pension schemes or
wealthy individuals.
Pension funds use Asset Managers to manage their funds. Some of the largest pension funds are worth several hundred billion dollars.
Banks
The different types of banks included in this study are: commercial, investment, development and co-operative.
Insurance companies
The insurance business model includes provision of insurance policies for clients (private individuals as well as companies) and also
investments (e.g. from insurance premiums). This study covers only insurance services for companies and not for private individuals.
In addition to the typical insurance providers, export credit agencies (ECAs) also provide insurance to companies to remove
export risk, for example, alongside the lending that banks might provide for large projects.
Private equity
Private equity institutions specialise in investments in companies that are not publicly traded. Private equity firms acquire
a controlling or substantial minority position in a company and then look to maximise the value of that investment.
They characteristically make longer-term investments and take on operational roles in the investee companies to
manage risks and achieve growth.
18 It is worth considering the feedback from some FIs that they have experienced a proliferation in survey and interview requests over the past few years. Whilst this
indicates a positive trend toward engaging the financial sector on these issues, for future work it is important to bear in mind FIs’ feedback on “survey fatigue”.

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2.2. Financial institutions and services
This section of the report presents the following:
• An overview of the types of FIs included in the study; and
• An overview of the financial services and products
provided by these FIs.
2.2.1 Types of Financial Institutions
There are broadly four different types of FIs included in this study:
1. Asset Managers;
2. Banks;
3. Insurance companies; and
4. Private equity institutions.
Given the large number of banks targeted for this survey,
the number of survey responses from this group was the
highest, accounting for 71% of total responses. As previously
mentioned, survey samples for other FI types are smaller and
related information should generally be seen as illustrative.
Financial institutions have different business models,
and these different business models can determine different
approaches to ES due diligence. The different types
of financial services offered by different types of financial
institutions also influences approaches to ES due diligence.
In general, the business models of large global banks
can be some of the most complex, as they typically offer
many types of financial services. In the case of insurance,
certain companies are standalone companies, with insurance
as their sole or main business, while others are part of larger
groups, which provide also other types of financial products
and services, such as banking services.
Other factors which influence ES due diligence approaches
include geography and sector focus. ES due diligence
approaches vary depending on whether clients or investee
companies are located in developed or emerging markets.
For example, in developed markets, legislation and
enforcement of ES laws are considered stronger than
in emerging markets, thus a higher level of ES due diligence
is sometimes deemed necessary for the latter. Many large FIs,
including participants of this study, have clients across a wide
range of major sectors (e.g. metals and mining, oil and gas,
agriculture); the mix of clients in their portfolios based on size
of exposure and geography varies significantly.
In short, variances in business models between and within different
types of FIs, including the mix of financial services offered,
size, geography and sector focus, result in different understandings
and approaches to ES issues and due diligence, and perceived
levels of responsibility for negative impacts and leverage.
2.2.2 Types of financial products and services
There are five different types of financial services included
in this study:
1. Asset-Based Finance;
2. Capital Markets;
3. Corporate Lending;
4. Insurance; and
5. Investment.
This research has focused on uncovering ES due diligence
approaches for the five financial services provided by one or
more of the FIs discussed in the section above. Table 3 below
provides an overview of the mix of financial services provided
by different types of FI study participants:
Key
Banks
Asset Managers
Private Equity
Insurance
71%
11%
10%
8%
Diagram 1: Survey responses by type of
financial institution

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Asset-Based
Finance
Capital Markets
Corporate
Lending
Insurance Investment
Duration
(typical range)
Wide variation
(e.g. between
1–25 years
although average
is around 9 yearsi
)
Variable including
short-term
transactions
(e.g. Initial Public
Offerings (IPO)
typically require
3–9 monthsii
)
Weeks to over
10 years (e.g.
working capital
loans can be less
than 1 year; term
loans between
1 to 10 years)
Annual policy
renewal cycle;
shorter term for
ECAs (e.g. credit
terms typically
less than 1 yeariii
)
Wide variation
(e.g. average
equity holding is
around 1 year,iv
bonds typically
from 1–10 yearsv
)
Industry
sectors financed
Typically large
high risk
infrastructure
and industrial
projectsvi
All sectors
(largest sectors
are financial,
energy power
industrialvii
)
All sectors All sectors All sectors
Typical amount
of funds involved
Large
(e.g. average fund
size was USD 128
million in 2000viii
)
Large
(e.g. average IPO
was USD 204.8
million in 2010ix
)
Highly variable;
probably smaller
on average relative
to other financial
service types.
Highly variable Highly variablex
Amount of ES
information
available
(on client or
portfolio company,
or asset/project in
the case of asset
finance)
Variable
(Higher than for
other financial
services e.g.
project finance
where Equator
Principles
are applied)
Relatively high,
as a larger
proportion
of clients are
multi-national
companies
Variable
(Higher for
larger and listed
companies, lower
for small-medium
enterprises)
Highly variable High for public
equities (due
to disclosure
requirements),
MNCs, lower for
other asset classes
e.g. property,
private equity
Use of syndication
(groups of FIs
working together
on a temporary
basis to finance
a particular
transaction)
Syndicates
normally required,
from 3 to over
50 FIs in largest
projectsxi
Syndicates
are common
for largest
underwriting
projectsxii
Syndicates (of 3
or more of FIs)
may be used for
term loansxiii
Syndicates may
be used for high
risk/unusual
risksxiv
Assets are
typically owned by
a large and diverse
group of managers
Tiers between
client and the FI
Borrower is a
special project
vehicle (SPV)xv
,
creating tiered
relationship.
Syndicates create
additional tiers,
e.g. between lead
arranger/other
participants.
Typically direct
client to FI
relationship
Syndicates (e.g.
underwriting
syndicates) will
create tiers.
Typically direct
client to FI
relationship.
Syndicates will
create tiers, e.g.
between lead
arranger/others.
Typically direct
client to FI
relationship,
except in
reinsurance.
Typically direct
client to FI
relationship.
Structured
investment
vehicles, “funds
of funds” etc.
will create tiers.
Table 4: General characteristics of financial services

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3.1. Findings on Frameworks
and Principles
According to survey data, the frameworks and principles
which FIs refer to the most in their ES policies or position
statements are:
• UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI);
• United Nations Global Compact (UNGC);
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR);
• United Nations backed Principles for Responsible
Investment (UNPRI)20
; and
• United Nations Guiding Principles for Business and
Human Rights (UNGPs).
3.1.2 Findings on the United Nations Guiding
Principles on Business and Human Rights
Whilst 60% of survey respondents are “aware”21
of the
UNGPs, during interviews there was a very mixed response
in relation to their understanding and use of the UNGPs
to identify and/or assess human rights issues. A further
discussion on this topic is included in Section 3.4. Those
FIs that indicated they were not familiar with the UNGPs are
located in countries that adhere to the OECD Guidelines as well
as countries that do not:
• Adhering countries: Australia, Denmark, France, Germany,
Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Turkey, UK, USA, Brazil; and
• Non-adhering countries: Ecuador, Nigeria, South Africa
and UAE.
This finding suggests that awareness-raising activities
on the UNGPs have not yet reached a number of FIs
both in adhering and non-adhering countries. It is worth
noting that a few FIs did not have specific plans to take
specific action pursuant to the UNGPs, as for example,
they already covered human rights aspects within existing
due diligence processes.
Of the FIs that are familiar with the UNGPs, in general, most
are at the early stages of understanding the implications for
their institutions. FIs familiar with the framework are:
• Developing their own institutional approach (e.g. policy);
• Developing a policy approach in collaboration with other
partners; or
• Already covering aspects of the framework within
existing policies and processes.
The Thun Group is an example of a recent initiative amongst
banks to support implementation of the UNGPs and better
understand how they can be applied to banking business.22
20 The UN PRI convenes working groups and facilitates debate on investment-related financial services provided by FIs such as private equity companies and Asset
Managers. Its membership has grown, from a few dozen since it was launched in 2006 to over a thousand in 2012. Some FIs indicated it would be a good platform to
build on existing discussions on ES due diligence related to Investment services.
21 Information presented is related to a separate survey question that specifically asked FIs whether they were “aware” of the UNGPs.
22 The Group is currently completing its work on a discussion document that focuses on Guiding Principles 16–21 (relating to the corporate responsibility to respect
human rights) and suggests an approach to the assessment and the scope and depth of due diligence which may be undertaken.” Thun Group of Banks Response to a
question at the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights, December 2012.
“We deal with human rights issues through our
policy on corporate responsibility. There are no
plans, in the near future, to adopt the mentioned
frameworks [UNGP]. Brazil has several laws on
human rights and we follow all procedures to
guarantee their enforcement.”
Bank
“For us the recent developments in human
rights [UNGPs] will mean significant changes,
particularly as our [EU] home country is taking
a leading role to include them in the financial
sector. It does not mean much change for our
policies, communications of these and what we
aspire to do. However, it does mean significant
changes for implementation and consistency of
implementation across geographies and sectors.“
Bank

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A number of FIs interviewed identified benefits of the
UNGPs including:
• Client engagement: The UNGPs are perceived as a useful
tool for engaging clients as they provide concepts and
a framework for discussion.
• Provides a common framework for the human rights
policy of individual FIs: The UNGPs are viewed as helpful
in providing internationally endorsed/recognised principles
for a human rights policy of an individual FI. For FIs that
already have a human rights policy, the framework provides
a useful reference.
• Provides clear guidance for FI clients or investee
companies: The UNGPs are seen as providing a clear
framework for client or investee companies to manage
human rights issues in, for example, their supply chains.
Many of the FIs interviewed are reviewing the UNGPs in
relation to existing ES policies and due diligence processes,
for example, by conducting a “gap analysis”.
3.2. Findings on standards and guidelines
The standards and guidelines most commonly embedded
in policies and/or implemented in ES due diligence processes
as identified by survey respondents are:
• General or client’s/investee’s industry-specific
environment, health and safety guidelines (73%);
• IFC Performance Standards (71%);
• Equator Principles (EP) (54%);
• International labour standards of the International Labour
Organisation (ILO) conventions (52%); and
• World Bank Group Environmental, Health, and Safety
Guidelines (50%).
3.2.1 The Equator Principles and IFC
Performance Standards
Since the launch of the Equator Principles for project finance
10 years ago, they have become widely accepted as good
practice for project finance transactions over USD 10 million.
Adopters use the EPs in their ES due diligence processes.
Whilst the EPs are designed for project finance transactions,
some FIs also use them as reference for other financial services
such as structured finance. A number of FIs interviewed cited
the Equator Principles and IFC Performance Standards as very
useful to their ES risk due diligence processes.
The Equator Principles have recently been updated to
reflect emerging good practice and the latest updates to
the IFC Performance Standards. One of the key changes is
to extend the coverage of the principles to include, inter alia,
project-related corporate loans that meet criteria including,
for example, a total aggregate loan amount of at least
USD100 million and a loan tenor of at least two years.23
“For us it is important to have an internationally
agreed framework and authority such as the
UNGPs, particularly in discussions with client/
investee companies in developing countries
where human rights may not be incorporated
into law.”
Asset Manager
23 Equator Principles: Frequently asked questions on the EPIII update (http://www.equator-principles.com/resources/EPIII_FAQs.pdf).
SURVEY SAYS...
FIs view the IFC Performance Standards as:
• Internationally recognised and accepted both
in adhering and non-adhering countries;
• Practical;
• Easier to implement within ES due diligence
processes; and
• More straighforward to compare to national laws
especially in non-adhering countries in relation to
implementation of ES due diligence.

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3.2.2 Sector-Specific Guidelines
FIs interviewed mentioned the use of sector-specific guidelines
(e.g. Forestry Stewardship Council, Roundtable on Sustainable
Palm Oil, International Hydropower Association Sustainability
Assessment Protocol) as a useful benchmark for assessing the
ES performance of their clients or investee companies.
Some interviewed FIs have sector-specific position statements,
which refer to these sector-specific guidelines, and some also
engage directly with industry associations to understand best
practice, and consider it good practice for their clients to do
the same.
3.2.3 The OECD Guidelines
The findings of the survey show that the awareness and use
of the OECD Guidelines by FIs was low: only 13 out of 52
survey respondents apply or refer to the OECD Guidelines
in the context of ES risk due diligence. The findings are
discussed in-depth in Section 4.1.
3.2.4 Comments on the findings
Overall, whilst FIs may refer to many frameworks, principles,
guidelines and standards in practice very few can be/
are directly applied in the implementation of ES risk due
diligence across different types of financial services. Unless
such standards are directly relevant to the financial sector and
provide a framework which assists FIs in assessing underlying
ES risks, their uptake by the sector is low.
3.3. Findings on environmental and
social risk due diligence processes
and implementation
3.3.1 Introduction
ES due diligence is an important tool for FIs to identify,
assess, categorise and manage potential ES risks or issues
associated with a project, transaction, client or investee
company, ideally before such risks or issues become adverse
impacts. For the purposes of this study, it is important
to understand when and how FIs undertake ES due diligence,
so that it potentially gives an indication of whether FIs can
subsequently manage any identified ES risks by influencing
client or investee company behaviour. The sections below
map in detail ES due diligence approaches and their
implementation by FIs for different financial services.
These findings combine data obtained from the surveys
and information acquired from the interviews conducted
with the FIs.
3.3.2 Findings on approaches to risk-based
ES due diligence
FIs have different approaches to addressing the ES risks
to which they may potentially be linked through the provision
of financial products and services.
SURVEY SAYS…
26 out of 52 FIs embed sector-specific guidelines or
standards in their policies and/or implement them in
their ES due diligence processes
29 out of 52 FIs have sector or industry-specific
policies and/or position statements (e.g. Energy,
Defence, Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Products, etc.).
KEY POINT
One of the most important drivers for conducting
ES due diligence is the FIs’ aim of having a risk
management approach that is suited to the risk
profile of their engagements.

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Type of ES issue
Sector
External initiative, standard, guidelines or internal policy
Geography (involving governance or post
conflict areas or trans-boundary impacts)
Type of financial service
Size of transaction/deal or counterparty
(e.g. escalation criteria or approval thresholds)
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Factors which influence the approach
to ES risk due diligence
According to FI study participants, a number of factors
influence the way an FI approaches ES risks, including , but
not limited to, the:
• FI’s business model;
• Types of financial services offered (including their typical
duration, amounts involved and number of tiers between
the FI and the client/investee company);
• Industry sectors of the client/investment portfolio;
• Types of ES issues related to the FI’s portfolio and the
potential to cause adverse impacts;
• Geographic scope of the FI’s business;
• Applicable industry initiatives and legal frameworks;
• Cultural aspects (internal and external); and
• External pressures from civil society.
As mentioned in Section 2.2.1 the business models of FIs are
very different, varying not only from one type of FI to another,
but also within the same category of FIs. They differ in:
• Nature of the FIs’ businesses (e.g. business strategy);
• Scope (e.g. development FIs, commercial FIs);
• Size (e.g. number of clients/investments, of employees,
of group entities);
• Shareholders’ structures (e.g. state owned, privately
owned, cooperative FIs); and
• Organisational structures.
Each of the foregoing influence the way ES risk management
is structured.
At the transaction level, a number of factors determine
or “trigger” whether, or what level of, ES due diligence
is undertaken as illustrated in Diagram 2 below:
Diagram 2: Survey responses on factors that trigger ES Due Diligence
Response (%)
ESDueDiligenceTriggers

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The types of ES issues emerge as the factor with most
influence (selected by 85% of the FIs surveyed), followed by
the industry sectors of the client/investee company and the
applicable industry initiatives (both selected by 77% of the FIs).
Based on the survey results, the main environmental and social
issues that “trigger” and/or influence the type or level of ES
due diligence undertaken by the FIs are outlined below.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES:
• Pollution (e.g. contamination of air, land or water);
• Deforestation;
• Loss of biodiversity and natural habitats;
• Greenhouse gas emissions and climate change
impacts; and
• Depletion of natural resources.
SOCIAL ISSUES:
• Child labour;
• Occupational health and safety;
• Working conditions;
• Forced and compulsory labour; and
• Community health, safety and security.
Based on our research, ES due diligence practices also vary
according to the commercial importance of specific industry
sectors to an FI. For example, banks which lend extensively to
certain sectors (e.g. agriculture) will focus more on ES issues
pertinent to this sector and ES due diligence approaches will
be tailored accordingly.
The interviews with the FIs showed that cultural aspects,
both external [in relation to the country where the FI operates
(e.g. different perceptions of the importance of economic
priorities versus ES issues can potentially lead to differing
ES due diligence practices between developed and emerging
economies)] and internal (within an FI’s own organisation),
also influence ES due diligence approaches.
Another factor that may influence an FI’s ES due diligence
approach is external pressure from civil society. In some cases
such pressure from civil society has triggered or facilitated
the development of certain ES risk practices or policies,
such as human rights policies.
During the interviews some of the FIs recognised that
after an initial “reactive” approach to ES due diligence,
FIs should ideally progress their ES due diligence practices
and approach in a more “proactive” manner over time.
It was also observed by a few FIs that after committing
to various external initiatives/standards, the focus of some
companies (not only FIs) can be on external reporting
to appease and react to stakeholder demands, rather than
focusing on actual ES risk management.
“A fundamental shift in the mind-set of Indian
financial institutions is needed to re-balance the
focus from commercial growth only, towards
environmental and social issues. This is an issue
commonly found in other emerging economies.”
Bank
“Currently too many companies drive ES due
diligence and report on ES issues and impacts
from the perspective of the external stakeholders
rather than using the data collected to drive
internal improvements in ES areas.”
Private equity company

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Types of approaches to ES risk due diligence
Some FI study participants have established a centralised
approach to ES due diligence, where the ES risk
policies, experts and decision-making authorities
are situated at the central/head office level of the
organisation. In such cases there is one point of
contact for ES issues, usually an independent
ES risk management team that reviews all relevant
financing/investing proposals.
Other FI study participants have adopted a decentralised
approach, where the various business divisions bear the
responsibility for conducting the ES due diligence for their
portfolios. In these cases, ES risk policies are developed
at business division level and the ES risk experts are located
in the business/commercial teams.
There are also FIs that have a more limited approach to ES
due diligence, where ES issues are dealt with on a case-
by-case basis, within the regular credit/investment decision
processes. In these cases, ES issues will typically only
be considered in the larger transactions or deals.
A number of FI study participants have adopted a systematic
approach to ES risk due diligence, as reflected in the
implementation example below.
Some of the FI study participants with well-established ES
due diligence and risk management practices are increasingly
of the view that engaging on ES issues is also an opportunity
to “create value” and deepen client relationships.
IMPLEMENTATION EXAMPLE 1:
Systematic approach to ES risk due diligence
Characteristics of a systematic approach to ES risk
due diligence:
• ES risk aspects are embedded into existing risk
frameworks and are an integral part of determining
the FI’s risk profile or appetite;
• An integrated, mainstreamed approach is in place
(e.g. ES risks are considered across the whole
range of financial services and by a number of
different functions);
• A framework of policies, processes, systems and
tools is used for consistent implementation; and
• Where relevant, ES risk due diligence takes place not
only at the transaction level, but also outside the deal
flows (e.g. some FIs screen for potential ES issues
before engaging with new clients, during Know Your
Customer (KYC) processes) and at portfolio level.
IMPLEMENTATION EXAMPLE 2:
ES risk management framework
One FI’s ES risk management framework is structured
in a three level pyramid:
Level 1 – Strategic level involvement in certain ES
initiatives, where the FI is able to make strategic
interventions (e.g. participation in extractive industries
initiatives, supporting academic research, participation
in industry-led presentations and workshops on
specific ES topics);
Level 2 – Tactical level, where the FI conducts
portfolio reviews and engages with clients outside the
transaction flow; and
Level 3 – Operational transactional level, where the
FI conducts transaction and client level reviews and
engages with clients within the context of a specific
transaction or business engagement.
On-going top-down and bottom-up communication
among the levels provides the basis for well-established
and implemented ES risk management strategies.
Strategic
level
Tactical level
Operational transactional level
ES risk management
framework pyramid

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ES risk policies
All the FIs surveyed confirmed having an official policy or
position statement on ES issues.
86% of the surveyed FIs have a general sustainability/
reputation risk/responsible investing policy that covers all
business activities, accompanied by policies that cover specific
industry sectors and ES issues.
ES risk policies can be categorised according to their scope into:
• Sector-based policies, which provide the framework
for ES due diligence when engaging with companies
in specific industry sectors (e.g. energy/oil gas, metals
mining or agriculture); and
• Issue-based policies, which provide the framework for
ES due diligence on specific environmental or social
topics across industries (e.g. human rights, climate change,
water, biodiversity, or country “no go” zones).
Sector-based policies range from straightforward exclusion
lists, which identify certain industry sectors as outside
the business scope of the FI (e.g. defence industry),
to comprehensive policies that articulate the circumstances
in which financial services and/or products can be provided
to companies in industries deemed to be sensitive for
ES reasons.
69% of the surveyed FIs also have a process, tool or methodology
for categorising industry sectors by the level of ES risk (e.g.
high, medium, low). The sectors most frequently associated with
the highest level of ES risk and thus most likely to be subject
to specific ES policies are energy/oil and gas, metals and
mining, and aerospace/defence services. Industry-based
policies typically cover both the ES aspects relevant to that
specific sector.
Issue-based policies are often applicable outside of an ES
risk management or investment framework, given that they
also can define the rules applicable to the FI’s direct operations
(e.g. policies dealing with the FI’s direct environmental impacts
or with supply chain issues). Nineteen of the 52 surveyed FIs
have a standalone issue-specific policy or position statement
on human rights, 18 have a geography/country specific policy
or position statement including “No Go” zones, and 25 have
other issue-specific policies and/or statements (e.g. on climate
change, biodiversity, water).
ES risk due diligence processes/implementation
In most cases (83% of the FIs surveyed), ES due diligence
processes are aligned with credit/investment approval processes.
FIs find that the assessment of ES issues at the very early
stage in a potential new transaction/investment is essential
to successfully managing ES risks.
Where needed, specific procedures, governance structures,
processesandtoolsaredevelopedforconductingESduediligence
(e.g. applicable decision-making processes and escalation criteria/
procedures, ES issue screening templates/questionnaires).
During the interviews it was determined that some FIs identify
upfront, certain sectors, countries and/or companies that have
significant ES issues that the FIs would not finance/invest in
due to ES considerations. These may be specified in separate
exclusion lists, or can be part of ES sector/issue based policies,
credit/reputation risk policies (such as risk appetite policies)
or compliance/KYC policies. The restrictions can include,
for example, companies in sectors such as defence, gambling,
tobacco, nuclear power or transactions involving countries under
United Nations and/or European Union sanctions or embargoes
(e.g. Iran and North Korea are under UN arms embargoes).
KEY POINT
FIs see prioritisation as necessary when
conducting ES due diligence, due to the
complexity of their business models (e.g. the
universal banks) and also due to the high
volumes of transactions/clients.
SURVEY SAYS…
50% have ES due diligence processes integrated
into all systems
6% do not have ES due diligence processes
integrated into any standard systems
57% incorporate ES screening criteria into their
KYC/new client on boarding processes and systems

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Many of the FI study participants use specific tools to screen
new transactions and identify those with higher ES risks,
which subsequently require further investigation. The result
of such screening is typically a categorisation of the risk
involved by the proposed transactions into high/medium/low
ES risk. Some of the FIs use traffic light colours to reflect the
level of ES risk (e.g. red for high, yellow/amber for medium,
and green for low ES risk).
Each FI uses its own methods and considerations to determine
the level of ES risk involved by a proposed transaction.
When FIs identify particular ES issues through the initial
screening process that translate into medium or high
ES risks for the FIs, it is only then that further ES due
diligence is conducted. In this way, ES due diligence and risk
management approaches are designed to be commensurate
with the potential level of ES risk. There is no “one size fits
all” approach to ES due diligence.
The following diagram provides an illustrative example of an ES
due diligence and decision-making process flow for a financial
service proposal, based on qualitative interview information.
Some FIs formalise such due diligence processes in their internal
policies/procedures, while for others it can be mostly an informal
process. FIs might have some or all of these elements in place.
IMPLEMENTATION EXAMPLE 3:
A Pension Fund’s Exclusion Lists
Our exclusion list includes the following sectors
in which we do not wish to invest:
• Tobacco;
• Alcohol (although we do have some flexibility
to include companies which derive a small
percentage of their profits from the sale of alcohol)
• Gambling;
• Firearms;
• Nuclear power (certain funds we invest in might
include nuclear power companies, however, we only
invest if they also invest in renewable energy); and
• Weapons (as described in further detail below).
Weapons exclusions
In 2006 we conducted an extensive review on the
changing conduct of warfare in the 21st century,
covering the International Humanitarian Law (IHL)
and the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in
Europe. The aim was to review our existing weapons
exclusion policy that articulated we would not invest
in companies that were “significantly involved” in the
design, manufacture and sale of weapons. Based on
this review we adapted our existing policy of 20 years
to be: 1) much more explicit on the types of companies
we exclude; and 2) based on internationally accepted
normative standards. As a result, in addition to the IHL
exclusions, we also exclude companies that produce:
• Nuclear weapons, cluster bombs and landmines;
• Inherently offensive rather than defensive weapons.
However, we are able to invest in companies that
comply with internationally accepted standards.
STUDY FINDING...
Factors that can determine ES risk levels
include but are not limited to:
• Industry sector;
• Nature of the goods financed;
• ES performance of the client/
investment company;
• Country where the client/investment
company or the project is located;
• Amount of funds involved; and
• ES issues raised by stakeholders.

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When FIs consider financing/investing in companies with
identified ES risks, many FIs request that the companies
improve their ES performance, whether prior to the financing
(as a “condition precedent”), or during the financing. In the
latter cases, ES requirements/conditions are included in the
financing documentation and regular monitoring of progress
(on-going due diligence) is necessary.
ES risk due diligence governance structure
A number of functions within an FI can be involved
in performing the ES due diligence, such as:
• Business/commercial teams (e.g. front officers,
client relationship managers, fund managers,
commercial deal teams);
• ES risk management teams24
;
• Risk management teams;
• Compliance teams; and
• Credit Committees/Reputation Risk Committees.
Depending on the centralised/decentralised model used for
ES due diligence, ES risk management teams are set up at
either central/head office level in the organisation (e.g. as part
of the central risk management structures) or in the business
divisions (e.g. with the business/commercial teams).25
83%
of the surveyed FIs have ES risk management teams.
Our research indicates that business/commercial teams are
typically responsible for gathering information and identifying
transactions with higher ES risks. ES risk management
teams are involved in performing further ES due diligence
and providing ES risk advice/recommendations. If dialogue
on ES issues with the company is deemed necessary,
the front office teams will typically conduct it with support
from the ES risk management teams. The ultimate
responsibility for managing ES risks can rest either with
ES risk management teams or with the business teams.
24 The teams of ES risk specialists within FIs have various names e.g. ES Risk Management, ESG, Governance Sustainable Investment, Sustainable Development
Social and Environmental Responsibility, Responsible Investment. Because this study focuses on risk-based ES due diligence, we refer to them throughout the
report as “ES risk management” teams.
25 Some FIs have separate Corporate Social Responsibility teams responsible for developing certain issue-based policies (e.g. on human rights), engaging with external
stakeholders on ES issues and/or for reporting on sustainability topics.
IMPLEMENTATION EXAMPLE 4:
ES Due Diligence and Decision-Making Process Flow
Proposed
financial
service
ES risk
negative
screening
ES risk
categorisation
Proceed,
without further
escalation, ES
risk mitigation
measures might
be required
Declined if ES
risk can not be
mitigated
Business/
commercial
teams
Business/
commercial
or ES risk
management
or compliance
teams
Business/
commercial
and/or ES risk
management
and/or
compliance
teams
Further ES
due diligence
performed,
specific ES
policies tools
apply
Proceed with
ES risk
mitigating
measures
Regular
progress
checks
Not pursued
following
informal
processes
Declined if on
exclusion lists
Lower ES
risk proposals
ES risk
management
teams
Credit
Committees/
Reputation Risk
Committees
Business/
commercial
and/or ES risk
management
teams
Proceed, no
further ES
due diligence
required
Escalation
to higher
decision-making
authorities
Key
ES risk due diligence process
ES risk due diligence decisions
ES risk due diligence decisions
ES risk categorisation
ES risk categorisation
Business governance structure
Ongoing ES risk due diligence
Higher ES
risk proposals

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Environmental and Social Risk Due Diligence in the Financial Sector / 33Sustainable Finance Advisory
Diagram 3 offers an overview of the proportion
of surveyed FIs who conduct ES risk due diligence for
each category of financial services.
Corporate Lending
Corporate Lending facilities are typically provided
by commercial banks.
All surveyed FIs that provide Corporate Lending facilities
to large companies conduct related ES due diligence.
Currently there are no internationally agreed standards
on ES due diligence for this type of financial services.
The recent extension to the scope of the Equator Principles
to include project finance-related corporate and bridge loans
would be applicable only to a very small part of an FI’s
(EP adopter) lending portfolio.
The different types of Corporate Lending can be
distinguished as:
• General lending facilities (e.g. working capital, overdraft)
that do not have an underlying asset26
; and
• Lending facilities that have an underlying asset, but which
do not qualify as Asset-Based Finance as defined for the
purposes of this report (e.g. loans related to forestry or
agricultural plantations, trade finance for ES sensitive
equipment, mortgage loans for property development).
Insurance
Capital Markets
Investment
Asset based finance
Corporate Lending Credit
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
% of Respondents providing these Financial Services
that undertake ES Due Diligence
Diagram 3: Survey responses on ES Due Diligence Undertaken by Financial Service Type
KEY POINT
ES due diligence for Corporate Lending is
conducted at a higher level, compared to, for
example, Asset-Based Finance, where a more
in-depth ES due diligence at the financed asset,
project or site level is possible. FIs studied cite
several factors, including the characteristics of
the financial services and the availability/non-
availability of specific ES impact assessments
and reports.
26 Physical assets such as a plant, property or equipment.
FinancialServiceType

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For the general lending facilities that do not have an underlying
asset, ES due diligence is limited to a company ES risk
assessment, usually based on publicly available information.
Implementation Example 6 below is consistent with a client
risk assessment in accordance with the IFC Performance
Standards (Performance Standard 1).
Some FIs use external service providers that create ES risk profiles
and databases of companies based on available public information.
For lending facilities that have an underlying asset, an ES
screening of the respective asset is performed in addition
to the company ES risk assessment. As mentioned, such
screening/assessment is conducted at a more general level
than for Asset-Based Finance.
Some of the surveyed FIs specify in their respective credit
policies which industries they lend or do not lend to (exclusion
lists) and/or identify sectors with higher ES risk.
Other FI study participants state the ES due diligence
requirements for Corporate Lending in specific sector policies.
Such sector policies set out minimum ES requirements for
a company to be eligible for financing and typically
all companies are assessed against these requirements.
In developing sector policies, FIs often categorise companies
to reflect their level of ES performance when benchmarked
against respective industry best or good practice standards
(e.g. compliant/near compliant/non-compliant).
For some FIs studied, depending on the ES risk categorisation
of the proposed financing (i.e. high, medium or low), further
ES due diligence and engagement with the company and/
or escalation to a higher decision-making authority might be
required. Where financing is approved with conditions, specific
covenants may be included in the loan documentation and
monitoring of progress takes place at regular intervals.
Asset-Based Finance
All 35 surveyed FIs who provide Asset-Based Financing27
have ES due diligence requirements for such transactions.
In some cases FIs assess structured finance transactions
using the same or similar standards that they apply for
project finance.
Given that this type of financing is provided for a particular
asset, for FI interview participants providing Asset-Based
Finance, the ES due diligence process typically includes:
• An ES risk assessment of the asset; and
• An ES risk assessment of the company.
Based on our study results, an initial review of the transaction
is almost always conducted by the front office teams, resulting
KEY POINT
ES due diligence approaches for project finance
above certain applicable thresholds (such as the
USD 10 million total project finance capital costs
thresholds for Equator Principles transactions)
are fairly similar for the FIs who apply the Equator
Principles, the IFC Performance Standards or
other comparable standards.
27 For the purposes of this report, “Asset-Based Finance” is defined as a method of funding specific projects typically secured by the project assets, including the
revenue-producing contracts (e.g. project finance, structured finance).
IMPLEMENTATION EXAMPLE 6:
A Bank’s Company ES risk assessment
When we conduct ES risk assessment at a company
level, we take into consideration the following aspects:
• The commitment of the company to manage ES
issues (e.g. the company’s policies on ES issues
and its commitment to uphold international ES
standards);
• The capacity of the company to manage ES issues
(e.g. the company’s ES management systems); and
• The track record of the company in managing ES
issues (e.g. whether there are NGO campaigns,
fines or lawsuits against the company related to
ES matters).

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in an ES categorisation of the project based on the magnitude
of its potential impacts and risks. Implementation Example
7 below is consistent with the World Bank/IFC approach
to categorisation of projects and representative of practices
of a growing number of FIs.
The level of subsequent ES due diligence is based on the
project categorisation. Further ES due diligence is carried
out for Category A and B projects and for projects located
in low-income OECD countries. No further ES due diligence
is required for Category C projects.
For most FI study participants, Category A projects usually
require sign-off from higher decision-making authorities
within the FI (e.g. Group Risk Committee).
Investment
Thirty-four out of the 36 FIs surveyed which
provide investment services conduct related ES
due diligence.28
The United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment
constitutes a voluntary international framework which signatory
FIs use to incorporate ES and governance issues into their
decision-making and ownership practices. A number of the
FI study participants are signatories of the UNPRI.
Investment-focused FI study participants have developed
general responsible investment policies that require integration
of ES factors into their investment decision processes.
Some FIs apply the responsible investment policies to all asset
classes, not only to “green” (e.g. environmentally friendly
or ethically screened) assets.
Some FIs studied have also developed issue-based policies
that, for example, include commitments to international best
practice in the areas of climate change, health and safety
or social issues.
There are a number of FIs who do not have specific
ES policies, but rather use recognised standards
to encourage best practice.
There are three main types of investments,
depending on the asset class:
• Equity investments: private equity and listed
equity investments;
• Fixed income investments (e.g. government or
corporate bonds); and
• Investments in other non-listed assets (e.g.
investments in real estate or sustainable energy
funds, investments in commodities).
28 Investment companies usually conduct Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) due diligence. Given that this report is focusing on the environmental and
social issues, for the purposes of this report we will use the same terminology as for the other types of FIs i.e. “ES due diligence”.
IMPLEMENTATION EXAMPLE 7:
A Bank’s ES risk categorisation for Asset-Based
Finance transactions
Our ES risk categorisation for Asset-Based
Finance transactions is aligned to the World Bank/
IFC categorisation. Accordingly, projects can be
categorised as:
• Category A (high ES risk) – Projects with potential
significant adverse social or environmental impacts
that are diverse, irreversible or unprecedented;
• Category B (medium ES risk) – Projects with
potential limited adverse social or environmental
impacts that are few in number, generally site-
specific, largely reversible and readily addressed
through mitigation measures; and
• Category C (low ES risk) – Projects with minimal
or no social or environmental impacts.
KEY POINT
Investment FIs use different strategies for
managing related ES risk, adapted for each
asset class, similar to that applied by FIs for
Corporate Lending.